Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity (FAHFH) announced in a Friday afternoon press release that to embrace its regional identity, which will soon include Nelson County, it will be changing its name to Piedmont Habitat for Humanity.

“Over the past 28 years, the Farmville Area Habitat for Humanity has served 42 families with new home construction and minor repairs,” officials said in the release. “This has only been possible because of individuals and organizations — advocates, donors and volunteers — who embrace the vision of a community where everyone has a decent place to live. Over the last five years, Habitat’s capacity to serve and resulting builds have increased dramatically.”

“But since the need for safe, decent, affordable housing continues to grow, we are not content to remain where we are,” officials continued. “In our local community, 58 percent of households fall below the Household Survival Budget, the bare minimum income a family needs to meet the basic necessities each month. Since housing costs are a large portion of that budget, we desire to help as many families as possible experience the stability that comes with affordable homeownership and affordable repairs.”

To that goal, officials stated they are happy to announce that as of July 1, the Nelson County Habitat for Humanity will merge with the Farmville Area affiliate.

Jayne Johnson, executive director of FAHFH, said in the release, “We are honored to be recognized for our history of local impact and to be seen as a model Habitat affiliate.”

The release highlighted that Nelson County will join the counties FAHFH currently calls home: Buckingham, Charlotte, Cumberland and Prince Edward.

“To embrace our truly regional identity, our name is changing to Piedmont Habitat for Humanity,” officials said in the release.

FAHFH Community Outreach Director Sam Rabon said, “We are proud of and thankful for our grassroots beginning in Farmville. We have been blessed over the years to be able to expand to the surrounding communities. What began so many years ago with a local group of dedicated citizens who desired more for their neighbors has truly grown to a regionally recognized housing presence. The new name reflects that reality.”

The release noted that residents in Nelson have their own deep Habitat history. Founded in 1994, the Nelson County Habitat for Humanity has built 26 homes as an all-volunteer led affiliate. It has enjoyed a unique partnership since 2012 with the Building Trades class at Nelson County High School, as the students build the majority of each home on campus before moving to the site where finishing work is completed.

Fred McGee, the chair of the board of directors for Nelson Habitat said in the release, “The combination with Farmville Habitat will enable us to continue and expand our mission of providing affordable housing to Nelson County and other rural Virginia counties.”

The release cited that the combined expertise, experience and resources of both the Farmville Area and Nelson affiliates will allow for all five counties to be served with even greater capacity.

“We have created an aggressive strategic plan for the next five years that will truly change the landscape of affordable housing in our region,” Johnson said in the release.

Piedmont Habitat for Humanity eagerly anticipates and appreciates the continued support of area citizens who rally together to lend a hand in helping all of their neighbors build a brighter tomorrow through the stability of safe, decent, affordable housing, the release noted.

Officials closed the release with a reminder that Habitat for Humanity serves lower-to-medium income individuals and families who have a demonstrated need for housing, the ability to pay an affordable mortgage and the willingness to partner by volunteering hundreds of hours working on their home and another Habitat home.